Z man remember what the weather folks say fill your bathtub full of water, and if a tornado comes jump in the tub and pull a materess over you
Helpful hints from and OLD COOT that's been through 3 Hurricanes & 2 Hisicanes(storms with male names for you yankees)
If the elec. is out for several days:
1) drive west out of the storm area to buy ice, buying it in Lakeland will cost you and arm & leg.(you're farther south then I remember Lakeland being 20+ year since I drove trough on my way to Ringling, you may have a drive a ways to get to the west side of any storm damaged areas. But believe me if the elec is out for several days you won't be able to find any in town and if you do luck up it will be $10-20 a bag.)
2) If you go to the grocery store and they are all out of candles don't sweat it buy some wax and cotton string, they will still be at regular price plus nobody will have bought any of wax or string. Melt the wax in a cheap pan on the grill and make your own candles. you can do what I did take a broom handle poke a hole in the sand about 12-18" in depth, cut your string 20" tie it to a stick dip it in the wax straiten out the sting and place it in the hole. Pour the melted wax into the hole come back in 4 or so hours pull the candles out. Scrape off the sand from the wax. Candle should burn for well, I still have the ones I made 10 years ago and we were out of elect. for a week.
3)If you run out of Charcoal use all the sticks laying around in your yard in your charcoal grill.
4)Bacon and eggs cook great in a grittle over a grill.
5)If you can help it try not to buy anything in the storm affected area the prices will have gone up overnight.
6) If your house has any damage call you insurance company during the eye of the storm if you still have phone service. Get to them before everybody else does
7)Try to limit the amount of times you open your freezer, if you have lots of frozen food cook all you can and have a party with your nieghbors.
8)Cats make great wind socks much better than dogs, cats can hold on longer
Good luck!
[ 08-13-2004, 12:00 AM: Message edited by: John D Harris ]